Strut or column



1,523,887 N. L. MALMGREN STRUT OH COLUMN Filed April 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JO ' Inc/257M617 1,523,887 N. L. MALMGREN STRUT OR COLUMN Filed April 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W645 .Mmyrcvz W653 fi m Wan/Z174 'tances apart-say nine (9) inchesleng The sleeve member Bconsists of four angle bars 1 rigidly connected together in spaced relation by means of transverse members specifically bands 2-secufed to the exterior surfaces thereof at desired disv ,hwise of said sleeve member, the relation being such that the inner surfaces of said angle bars will define a substantially square orrectangular opening extemlinglengthwvise through said sleeve member. having longitudinal openings 3 in its lateral sides.

The post member C preferably consists of a timber of substantially the same shape in cross-section as the opening through the sleeve member B and which is of such size that it will telescope into said sleeve member,-being loosely fitted thereto.

In use, the sleeve member B and post member G of my improved strut or column are adapted to be joined to form a strut or column of desired length, by means of a plate l which isadapted to-be inserted into the interior of the sleeve member B with parts thereof extending througl'i the openings 3in the sides of said sleeve member between the angle bars 1 thereof, parts of said plate-projecting outwardly through the openings in the sides of said sleeve member so as to interlock with the transverse members or hands 2 which extend across said openings. thus forming a rigid abutment or support on said sleeve member for the post member (l. V I 7 As shown, said plate 4 conforms substantially to the shape in cross-section of the sleeve section B of the strut. beingsubs antial-ly square, and is positioned within said sleeve section with its corners projecting ontwardly through the longitudinal openings 3 in the sides of said sleeve section so that they will interlock with'the transverse members of bands 2 which connect the angle bars 1 thereof. Also, to render the plate 4 interchangeable so that it may be engaged with different transverse members or hands 2, said-jp'late 1 s so proportioned that it may be inserted i'nto'the interior of the sleeve sectio'n B throug'hthe openings in the sides thereof, between adjacent bands 2.

The particularadvantage of this feature of my improved strut or column is that the post members C may be made of timbers of random lengths, thus providing for using pieces of timber which might otherwise bc of little or no value. instead of making said struts or columns of new timbers cut to proper length,

To provide for accurately adjusting the tops of the struts or columns A to bring them to the proper level, the lower ends of the post members preferably test upon wedges 5 which in turn rest upon a suitable support or foundation indicated at (i.

Excepting as otherwise herein particularly described and. pointed out. the sleeve member B and post member C and asso ciated parts are substantially identical both in construction and as regards the manner of using the same with the corresponding parts of the strut or column which forms the subject-matter of my said prior Patent No. 1,486,444.

in accordance with my present invention. the strut or column A formed by the sleeve member ll and post member C canreadily be converted into a. T-strut by means of the brackets l) which are adapted to be removably secured to the upper end tlwrcot. and which are adapted to support a timber T of suitable length, which forms the crossmcmber of said T on which the load rests.

ll hile my invention contemplates the usc of brackets D of any desired construction. because of its simple construction, small cost of manufacture. strength and light weight. I prefer the form of bracket shown in the diawings and which will now be described. the description referring to said bracket when attached to thc strut or column A. in

use.

The bracket D consists of a beam member (Z adapted to be attached directly to a rigid part of the sleeve member l) of the strut, a tension bracing member (Z adapted to rest in contact with the side of the sleeve nicmber B to which the bracket is attached. and diagonal struts or crm'iprcssion mcmbers (Z which connect said beam member 1/ and tension member (1 adjacent to their outer ends, said compression men'ibcrs be ing of such lengtl'l that they will extend above the upper surface of: the beam member r? and rearwardly beyond the tension member (Z said projecting ends being designated 8 and 9. respectively.

As shown, the beam member (it consists of angle bars 10 secured together in spaced relation by cross bars ll riveted or otherwise secured thereto at short distances from their opposite ends, saidangle bars being disposed with their flanges extending inwardly and downwardly.

The tension bracing member (1 also consists of angle bars 13. the upper ends of which are secured to the depending flanges of the angle bars 10 and the outer ends of which are connected by a cross bar 14: rigidly secured thereto, said angle bars being disposed with their flanges extending inwardly and 'frontwardly, that is away from the sleeve member B. As shown also, the lower ends of the angle bars 13 are secured together in such relation that the rearwardly projecting ends 9 of the strut or compression members 6Z2 will embrace opposite sides of the sleeve member B of the strutwhen said bracket is attached thereto, the rearwardly projecting ends of said struts or compression members operating to engage. the lower end of the tension member (Z positively with the sleeve member B so as to prevent turning of the bracket under load.

The bracket D is adapted to be removably attached to the sleeve member B by means of slots 15 formed in the depending flanges of the angle bars of the beam member cl, which are adapted to hook over the upper ends of the flanges of the angle bars 1 forming parts of the sleeve member B, which project over the sides of said sleeve member to which said bracket is to be attached, the inner end of. said beam member being made of such width that it will fit loosely between the flanges of the angle bars 1 other than those which the slots are designed to engage.

As shown the angle bars 1 extend a short distance above the uppermost set of transverse members 2 which connect said angle bars and the flanges of said angle bars over which the slots 15 hook are cut-away flush with the top edges of said transverse members, said slots 15 being of such width that they will receive both the flanges of the angle bars 1 and the transverse members 2 which connect said flanges.

When the flanges to which the brackets D are designed to be attached are cut-away in the manner described, the upper ends of the other flanges of said angle bars 1 will 62;- tend above the upper surface of the bracket D on both sides thereof, as shown at 16.

When it is desired to use the strut A as a T-strut, brackets D are attached to opposite sides thereof in the manner heretofore described and the cross-timber 7 placed in position on the upper surfaces of said brackets, where it will be confined by the projecting upper ends 8 of the struts or compression members (l of said brackets and by the upwardly extending flanges 16 of the angle bars 1 of the sleeve member 13, which together define a groove or channel on the upper sides of said brackets adapted to receive said timber.

lVith the described construction it is obvious that by attaching the brackets D to the strut or column A or detaching them therefrom, said strut or column may quickly and conveniently be converted for use either as a plain strut or column, as shown new and described in my said prior Patent No. 1,486,444 or as a T-strut as herein particu la 1 shown and described.

I claim 1. A strut or column comprising a sleeve member, a post member loosely fitted thereto and adapted to telescope therein. an adjustable stop on said sleeve member which forms a rigid abutment for said post member, a bracket on said sleeve member comprising a beam member. and means for delining a channel on the upper side of the beam member of said bracket adapted to re ceive a cross-member.

2. A strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which the channel on the beam member of the bracket on said sleeve member is formed by parts of said sleeve member which extend above said beam member.

3. A strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which the bracket on the sleeve member comprises a compression member parts of which extend above the top of the beam member of the bracket on both sides thereof.

41:. A. strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which the bracket on the sleeve member comprises a compression member, and the channel on the beam member of said bracket is formed by parts of said sleeve and compression members which extend above said beam member on both sides thereof.

5. A strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which the beam member of the bracket consists of rigidly connected angle bars flanges of which extend inwardly over the upper end of the sleeve member proper of the strut or column.

6. A strut or column as specified in claim 1 in which the beam member of the bracket consists of rigidly connected angle bars flanges of which extend inwardly over the upper end of the sleeve member proper of the strut or colun'm. and the compression member of said bracket consists of flanged members secured to opposite sides of the beam member with their flanges disposed outwardly and their upper ends extending above the upper side of said beam member.

7. A strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which. the sleeve member proper consists of rigidly connected angle bars flanges of which are cut off below the upper end of said. sleeve member. and the other flanges of said angle bars extending above the upper surface of the beam. member of the bracket on said sleeve member on both sides thereof.

8. A strut or column as specified in claim 1, in which the sleeve member of the strut consists of rigidly connected angle bars flanges of which are cut off below the upper end of said sleeve member. and the other flanges of said angle bars extending above the upper surface of the beam member of the bracket on said sleeve member, and said bracket comprises a compression member parts of which extend above the upper surface of the beam member ot said bracket on both sides thereof.

9. A strutor column comprising a sleeve member consistingof connected angle bars, transverse members which rigidly connect said angle bars a post member loosely fitted thereto and adapted to telescope therein, an adjustable stop on said sleeve member which forms arigid abutment tor said post member, a bracket detachably secured to said sleeve member comprising a beam member constructed and arranged to inter lock with a rigid part oi? said sleeve memher, and means for defining a channel. on the upper side of said beam member adapted to receive a cross-member.

10. A strut or column as specified in claim 9, in which the beam member of the bracket is provided with a hook or hooks adapted to engage the upper ends of the flanges ot' the angle bars forming parts of the sleeve member of the strut which project inwart ly over the sides of said sleeve member to which said bracket is adapted to be attached.

11. A strut or column as specified in claim 9, in which the beam member of the bracket is provided with a hook or hooks adapted to engage the upper ends of the flanges of the angle bars forming parts of the sleevemember which project inwardly over the sides of said sleeve member to which said bracket is designed to be attached, the upper ends of said flanges termlnating substantially flush with the topmost transverse member or members which connect said flanges and the hook or hooks on the beam member of said bracket being wide enough to receive both the flange of an angle bar and said transverse member.

12. A strut or column as specified in claim 9 in which the beam member of the bracket is provided with a hook or hooks adapted to engage the upper ends of the flanges of the angle bars forming parts of the sleeve member which project inwardly over the sides of said sleeve member to which said bracket is designed to be attached, the upper ends oi said flanges terminating substantially flush with the topmost transverse member or members which connect said flanges and the hook or hooks on the beam member said bracket being wide enough to receive both the flange of an angle bar and said transverse member, the flanges of said angle bars other than those to which bracket attachments are adapted to be made extending above the upper surface oi the beam member 0'1. a bracket attached to said sleeve member at both sides thereof, whereby the upper ends of the flanges of the angle bars adapted to be engaged by the hook or hooks on said bracket will be reinforced by transverse members which connect said angle bars.

13. A strutorcolunm as specified iuclaim 9, in which the beam member of the hrawkct consists of rigidly coimectcd angle bars disposed with their flanges extcniilingr downwardly and inwardly and the hooks for altachin said bracket to the sleeve member proper consist ot' slots formed in the depending flanges ct said angle bars.

1 1-. A strut or column as specified in claim 9, in which the beam member oi the bracket consists of rigidly connected angle bars disposed with their flanges extending downwardly and inwardly and the hooks for attachine' said bracket to the sleeve member proper consist oi slots formed in the do pending flanges oi said angle bars and the tension member oi the bracket consists of rigidly connected angle bars disposed with their flanges extending inwardly and frontwardly.

15. n. strut or column comprising a sleeve member, a. post men'iber loosely fitted thereto and adapted to telescope therein. a bracket on said sleeve member comprising; a beam member and means for dciinine' a channel on the upper side of the beam member of said bracket adapted to receive a cross member.

16 A strut or column as specified in claim 15, in which the channel on the beam member of the bracket on said sleeve member is formed by parts oi said sleeve member which extend above said beam membcia 17. A strut or column as specified in claim 15, in which the bracket on the sleeve member comprises acompression member parts of which extend above the top of the beam member on the bracket on both sides thereof.

18. A strut or column as specified in claim 15, in which the bracket on the sleeve member comprises a compression member. and the channel on the beam member of said bracket is termed by parts of said sleeve and compression members which extend above said beam member on both sides thereof.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aiiix my signature this 19th day of April, A D. 1923.

NELS L. M ALMGREN. 

